surgeon general

noun

plural

surgeons general 

1. the chief of medical services in one of the armed forces.

2. (initial capital letters),  the head of the U.S. Bureau of Public Health or, in some states, of a state health agency.

surgeon general

noun

1. (in the British, US, and certain other armies and navies) the senior officer of the medical service

2. the head of the public health service in the US

Word History and Origins

Origin of surgeon general¹

First recorded in 1770–80